nothing but the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Sea by miraculous power, saved the Israelites from destruction.
In the account of these transactions, recorded in the sacred Volume, an expression is used, which has often called forth animadversions as tending to detract from the Divine goodness and justice. It is said, that "the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the Israelites go;" and it is asked—with some appearance of truth—was it just to harden Pharaoh's heart, so as to cause him to do wrong, and then punish him for it? But a little reflection will show, that this language is not to be taken literally,—that it is used merely in accommodation to man's gross apprehension of things,—in the same way as God is said to repent, to be angry, and to have other human passions. It is to be remembered that this record was intended, originally, for the teaching and guidance of a people existing in a most rude and barbarous age, surrounded by idolatry, and just emerging from it themselves; a people, who had been accustomed to worship gods, endowed, according to common belief, with all the loves and hates, jealousies and revenges, of men; and who were represented as having the power to throw their enemies into all bad and wretched states of mind and body, at their pleasure, as well as to favor their worshipers with all happy and agreeable things and manifold advantages. Now, to suit these their gross ideas of Divinity, and to assure the Israelites that their own God, Jehovah, was truly omnipotent and above all other gods, and able to torment their enemies, and make them instruments for the exhibition of His own power, as well as to favour His
